Warren Buffett: 14 Simplest Pieces of Money Advice That Can Work for Anyone

Warren Buffett: 14 Simplest Pieces of Money Advice That Can Work for Anyone

Ellie Diamond  Mon, October 7, 2024  GOBankingRates

Warren Buffett has a gift. He’s the 10th wealthiest person in the world and the largest shareholder of the famous Berkshire Hathaway, but he shares some of the most relatable money advice.

Buffett’s 60-plus-year career has left the personal finance world with some of its favorite quotes and most evergreen advice.

Start Small and Be Patient

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

Buffett didn’t start with millions to invest. He describes his early days as “working with a tiny, tiny amount of money,” when he would choose a promising small company and invest in its growth.

He believes this freedom to choose small companies makes small-scale investing powerful. More important: Anyone can follow this advice. Choose an affordable company you believe in, then wait for it to work its magic.

As Buffett said at the 2001 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, “I think if you’re working with a small amount of money, you can make very significant sums.”

Invest in Index Funds

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund.”

If you’re looking for the simplest way to invest, Buffett recommends the index fund.

Index funds are investments that track the return of a market index, representing a particular section of the stock market. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is one such index.

The S&P 500 includes 500 companies in various top-performing industries. Its broad representation means you’re not tying your funds to a tiny slice of the economy. Buffett likes it for everyday investors because it’s a simple yet effective way to spread your money around.

Buy Bonds

“Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds.”

If you’re looking for investment strategies, why not do what Buffett does with his money? As Buffett told shareholders in 2013, he has instructed the administrator of his wife’s trust to split the funds 90/10: 90% in the S&P 500 and 10% in government bonds.

The U.S. government offers two types of bonds: treasury and savings. Treasury bonds cost a minimum of $100, while savings bonds cost $25 and up.

Understand Your Investments

“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.”

Knowledge is power when it comes to your money. You don’t need to know everything about the market or the industry you’re investing in. Most people would never be able to invest if that was a requirement.

You do need to understand the basics of how an investment works. You’ve already taken the first step by learning about index funds and bonds. If you have another investment interest, start researching it. You can always ask a financial advisor for help if you need it.

Don’t Follow the Crowd

“The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the crowd or against the crowd.”

Buffett has never made investment decisions by following trends. He made billions by finding companies he believed in and holding his shares in them for as long as it made sense.

If you understand the products in your portfolio and why they’re smart, you don’t need to follow investment trends.

Keep Cash Available

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One word of caution: CDs tend to charge fees if you withdraw early. There are always high-yield and traditional savings accounts if you need quick access.ww.yahoo.com/finance/news/warren-buffett-14-simplest-pieces-230010894.html

Warren Buffett's Son Cashed In His $90,000 Inheritance at 19

Warren Buffett's Son Who Famously Cashed In His $90,000 Inheritance at 19 Spends Millions in 'Buffett Bucks' Transforming A Small New York Town

Jeannine Mancini  Updated Sun, October 6, 2024   Benzinga

Warren Buffett has always been clear about how he wants to handle his wealth with his kids, famously saying he'd give them "enough so they can do anything but not enough so they can do nothing."

His son, Peter Buffett, really took that to heart. At 19, Peter made a bold move by cashing in his $90,000 inheritance – Berkshire Hathaway stock – and using it to chase his dream of becoming a musician. While that stock would be worth hundreds of millions today, Peter has no regrets. For him, it wasn't about the money but the time it bought him to explore his passion.

In 2010, Peter and his wife Jennifer moved to Kingston, a small city in New York's Hudson Valley. From there, they began using their foundation, NoVo, to invest in the community. We're not talking pocket change either – NoVo's contributions rival Kingston's annual budget. One of the more interesting investments? The introduction of a local currency, known by some as "Buffett Bucks."

Yes, you read that right – Buffett Bucks. As part of Peter's vision for sustainable, community-focused development, the NoVo Foundation has supported the creation of a local community currency. The idea is to keep money circulating within the city, supporting local businesses and initiatives. It's an unconventional move, but it's all part of Peter's broader mission to strengthen the area's economy in a way that builds resilience and keeps things local.

Of course, NoVo's influence stretches beyond currency. The foundation has invested millions in projects like the Hudson Valley Farm Hub, which they purchased for $13 million in 2014. The farm has become a cornerstone of local agriculture, growing grains, vegetables and dry beans on 1,500 acres. It's not just about food production; the farm is also a training ground for future farmers, focusing on organic and sustainable practices.

But it's not all smooth sailing. Some Kingston locals have reportedly raised concerns about the foundation's decision-making process, particularly the lack of public input. Transparency becomes a big deal when so much of a town's economy is tied to one private organization. According to Tablet Mag, there are whispers of an unspoken rule: don't talk bad about NoVo if you want to keep getting funding.

Still, Peter isn't one to shy away from criticism. In response to some concerns, he's emphasized that NoVo isn't trying to claim all the answers. They're in it for the long haul, committed to finding solutions through dialogue and collaboration. It's all part of Peter's belief in using his resources not to control but to empower the community.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/warren-buffetts-son-famously-cashed-153019216.html

5 Financial Habits Keeping You Broke

5 Financial Habits Keeping You Broke, According to Money Expert Michela Allocca

Caitlyn Moorhead  Thu, October 3, 2024   GOBankingRates

The strategies and habits that lead to your personal financial success aren’t just comprised of big investments and down payments, but also of knowing which things to avoid. According to money expert and financial analyst Michela Allocca, a rising voice in personal finance, certain financial habits are major contributors to keeping people broke.

She said, “Personal finance success is 10% strategy and 90% behavior. There are so many things you can do that are external of your income to help ensure you stay on the right path.”

So many money moves are positive, such as starting an emergency fund, diversifying your portfolio or maximizing your 401(k). However, keep reading to discover the five habits Allocca says you should break unless you want to stay broke.

Not Keeping a Grocery List

If you are living paycheck to paycheck and spending every dollar you earn, there’s no room for impulse buying at checkout if you want to start saving.

Grocery shopping is inevitable, but Michela Allocca said it doesn’t have to derail your monthly budget. Keeping a grocery list is a great way to ensure you stick to your budget while shopping.

“Having a grocery list and shopping my pantry makes it so much easier to save money on food and not waste anything,” added Allocca. “It’s a simple habit that makes a big difference!”

Not Tracking Your Expenses

One of the most common mistakes people make is failing to create and stick to a budget. One of the biggest culprits in this is not tracking your expenses.

“You need to be doing this to know where your money is going,” she said.

Allocca stressed that budgeting is not about restriction but about clarity and control over your money. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to overspend and lose track of where your money is going.

Signing Up For Shopping Email Lists

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/5-financial-habits-keeping-broke-180032867.html

Do This One Thing If You Can’t Afford a Financial Emergency Right Now

Do This One Thing If You Can’t Afford a Financial Emergency Right Now, According to Rachel Cruze

Nick Perry  Mon, September 30, 2024  GOBankingRates

A third of Americans say they cannot afford a $400 emergency expense in cash, according to research from Empower. That’s an astounding number that reflects the financial challenges most Americans are facing today. Unfortunately, life can be unforgiving, and just because you can’t afford a financial emergency doesn’t mean you might not experience one.

That’s why financial expert Rachel Cruze insists on the importance of an emergency fund. An expert at financial firm Ramsey Solutions, Cruze tells her more than 600,000 followers on Instagram that now is the time to start building an emergency fund.

Her No. 1 solution to prepare for a financial emergency is simple.

How To Build an Emergency Fund

Cruze’s biggest tip for building an emergency fund is to start selling things you don’t use. As she puts it, “Look around your house and think, ‘What crap do I have that I don’t use and that I don’t need?'” Turning those items you don’t want or need into cash will give you a buffer to pay off surprise debts like car repairs, medical bills or even semi-planned expenses like books for school or an increase in your phone bill.

Cruze notes that there are many things you can do to cut back on your spending, like picking up a side hustle or dining out less, but says, “Fast cash is what you need if you’re in that position [of not having an emergency fund].”

Some of the items Cruze recommends selling include:

Exercise equipment

TVs

Clothes

Shoes

With tools like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Poshmark, it’s easy to turn the belongings you no longer want or need into cash.

How Much Should Your Emergency Fund Be?

Cruze notes in the caption of her post that a Ramsey Solutions study found that 34% of Americans have no savings at all. To gain a measure of financial peace, Cruze recommends selling enough items to secure a $1,000 cash emergency fund. That’s the first step to taking better control of your financial health.

4 Reasons To Have an Emergency Fund

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/one-thing-t-afford-financial-120019524.html

5 Secrets About Money American Banks Don’t Want You To Know

5 Secrets About Money American Banks Don’t Want You To Know — Plus How To Beat Them At Their Own Game

Maurie Backman  Tue, October 1, 2024  Moneywise

As consumers, we rely on banks to keep our money safe and secure. They’re an essential part of our economy — but they’re also a profit-seeking business.

As much as banks are a mainstay of people’s personal finances, some of their practices aren’t exactly as transparent as they should be — and many Americans have caught on.

In fact, a 2023 study from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that only 10% of U.S. adults have a “great deal of confidence” in banks and financial institutions, while 56% say the government is not doing enough to regulate the industry.

There are certain tricks banks employ to make money and protect their own interests — and these tactics aren’t necessarily general knowledge.

Here are a few of the biggest banking secrets you should know about.

1. Sneaky fees

From maintenance fees to overdraft charges, one of the main ways banks make their money is through various fees. Even ones that seem negligible at first glance can add up over time.

For example, personal finance celebrity Dave Ramsey once called maintenance fees “some of the sneakiest,” adding that, “you agree to them when you open an account, and you may not even realize it until they show up on your statement six months later.”

But it may be possible to avoid paying maintenance fees. For instance, some banks may waive the fee if you maintain a certain minimum account balance.

However, fees on big loans, such as a mortgage, are often hiding in the fine print of your contract. Although it may feel tedious, always read the fine print before you open any account.

If you come across any fees, in general, you should feel empowered to contest it. After all, a bank is like any other business — they don’t want to lose you as a customer, especially if there’s a risk that they’ll lose you to a competitor.

2. Credit cards offer more protection than debit cards

Using a debit card over a credit card can be beneficial, especially since many businesses impose a surcharge on customers for credit card purchases. However, credit cards tend to offer more protection than debit cards.

Often, when there's a fraudulent transaction on your credit card account, you can dispute it. Typically, the charge will be removed from your balance while it's being investigated, or you'll receive a credit for that charge so you don't have to pay for it.

But when your debit card is used fraudulently, you have less protections in place. You generally only have a small window of time to report a fraudulent transaction on a debit card — and that window may depend on the rules and regulations your bank has in place.

If your debit card or PIN number is stolen, you may find yourself responsible for up to $500 in unauthorized transactions if you notify your bank after two business days, according to the FDIC.

With a credit card, on the other hand, you could report fraud several weeks later — on average, around 60 days after the fact. In some situations, it can be even longer.

For this reason, it could pay to use a credit card more often than your debit. As an added bonus, credit cards let you rack up points or cash back on your purchases, which debit cards don't.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/5-secrets-money-american-banks-121300122.html

Suze Orman: 1 Reason You Should ‘Absolutely’ Own Bitcoin

Suze Orman: 1 Reason You Should ‘Absolutely’ Own Bitcoin

GoBankingRates  Kellan Jansen  September 23, 2024

Suze Orman is a financial host and author, and in a recent interview with CNBC, she said she believes “everyone should absolutely” own the cryptocurrency bitcoin. Usually, people who support bitcoin as an investment view it as a store of value — but Orman doesn’t.

Here’s the real reason you should own the No. 1 crypto asset by market cap, according to Orman.

Young People Are Fascinated by Bitcoin

Orman’s main idea is that young people are excited by bitcoin, and they’re likely to continue buying it for years. This, she argued, should be positive for the coin’s price over time.

Orman doesn’t buy into the idea that bitcoin will become a store of value like gold or supplant the dollar. But she does view it as a speculative asset that may still have room to run in the future.

However, Orman doesn’t recommend putting all of your money into the crypto market. She said you should invest only what you can afford to lose. That aligns with the general recommendation of allocating no more than 5% of your portfolio to crypto.

Orman is correct in pointing toward younger generations’ interest in cryptocurrency. Millennial and Gen Z investors are now as likely to own crypto as they are to own real estate. One reason for that could be dissatisfaction with the current financial system.

But Orman doesn’t evaluate further than this. She argued that the buy-in from young people is all that really matters. In other words, as long as people continue believing in bitcoin, its price should keep increasing.

Is Orman Right About Bitcoin?

TO READ MORE: https://www.aol.com/suze-orman-1-reason-absolutely-140020392.html

Can I Deposit This Money Legally?

Can I Deposit This Money Legally?

Christy Bieber  Sat, September 28, 2024 Moneywise

I lost faith in banks in 2009 — now I have $650K in cash sitting in a safe. Can I deposit this money legally?

Anyone who lived through the Great Recession remembers the tremendous economic turmoil that took place.  Banks had made mortgage loans to unqualified borrowers, bundling those loans into mortgage-backed securities that were sold to investors. The entire house of cards collapsed as home prices began to fall and interest rates began to rise. Several major banks failed, the government was forced to bail out more and the stock market plummeted.

While the economy eventually recovered, many people became wary of financial institutions — with some people worried enough to withdraw their funds from banks and brokerage firms entirely.

If you're one of those people and have been hoarding cash since the Great Recession, you've sadly missed out on the chance to benefit from years of economic growth. While the average closing price for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was around $8,886 in 2009, the average in 2023 was $34,122, and has continued to rise in 2024.

For those who want to get in on the gains, it may be time to make a change. However, you'll need to understand the rules for doing so.

How To Deposit A Large Sum Of Money

If you've amassed a large sum of money at home instead of putting cash in the bank, you may be wondering if it's even possible to deposit it once you've had a change of heart.

The answer is yes, but there are some caveats.

Specifically, when you deposit over $10,000, your bank is required by the Bank Secrecy Act to report it to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Your bank may ask some personal questions, including why you're depositing such a large sum, so you must be prepared to answer them.

To be clear, if you've done nothing wrong, earned the money legitimately and paid taxes on it, this reporting requirement shouldn't worry you. You just need to know about it so you aren't caught off-guard by the bank's queries.

What you don't want to do, though, is break up your big deposit into a series of smaller ones to evade reporting rules. This is called “structuring” and it's illegal even if you earned the money legitimately.

It’s also a good idea to call the bank in advance of making a large deposit. Showing up with $650,000 in cash could cause problems if the financial institution isn't prepared to handle that much all at once. Your bank can work with you to find a safe way to deposit the money.

You should also be aware that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only insures up to $250,000 per person, per account, so simply depositing $650,000 into a bank account may not be the best move. You may want to put some money into different savings accounts or buy Certificates of Deposit or other investments with it so you don't risk losing funds above $250,000 if another bank collapse happens sometime in the future.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/lost-faith-banks-2009-now-115000682.html

Was Benjamin Franklin The Original Financial Guru?

Was Benjamin Franklin The Original Financial Guru?

Here are 4 bits of money advice from the Founding Father

Lou Carlozo   Sun, September 22, 2024  Moneywise

Staring out from the $100 bill, looking more like a wise old uncle than Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin seems an easy guy to like. And if anyone belongs on U.S. currency it's this colonial polymath who dished financial wisdom as fit for today as when he signed the Declaration of Independence at age 70.

Let’s start, though, by getting this myth out of the way: Franklin never exactly said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” The line he wrote in his 1737 edition of “Poor Richard's Almanack” was this: “A penny saved is two pence clear.”

Regardless, a penny saved in 1737 would be worth 79 cents today, per the Official Data Foundation. And by offering sound advice like the above, it’s no stretch to call Franklin one of America’s original financial gurus.

Among the many things he said about personal finance, these four are drawn from “The Way to Wealth,” a collection of adages and advice published in 1758 that were imparted in previous “Almanack” writings.

No pain, no gain

“There are no gains without pains,” he wrote.

And you thought some buff weightlifter made this up. Franklin was vocal about the dangers of sloth (including excess sleep) and urged people to pursue wealth through industriousness. He cites a gripe as common then as now among people who struggle with money: high taxes. But wishing for outside factors to change, he argued, is never as effective as taking charge through diligence.

“He that lives upon hope will die fasting,” Franklin wrote, while the industrious “shall never starve … at the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.”

Consider Franklin’s counsel as an invitation to find and maintain income streams beyond your day job. Maybe start a side hustle out of your home and grow it from there.

Be frugal

“We must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful,” Franklin wrote. "You may think , perhaps, that a little tea or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter, but remember, many a little makes a mickle. Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship."

The most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that, in 2022, Americans spent 10.9% more on apparel and services, including 18.8% more on footwear, than the previous year.

While that’s not the same as splurging on a sea cruise, ask yourself whether slowly filling your closet points to a spending problem — that proverbial capsizing ship. Or, as Franklin lamented, “When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy 10 more.”

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/benjamin-franklin-original-financial-guru-112800465.html

Suze Orman’s Top 25 Tips That Will Save You From Financial Disaster

Suze Orman’s Top 25 Tips That Will Save You From Financial Disaster

Gabrielle Olya   Thu, September 26, 2024  GOBankingRates

Suze Orman was working as a waitress and making $400 a month at 29 years old. She then decided to take a chance on a major career change and landed a job as a broker for Merrill Lynch.

Having been on both ends of the financial spectrum, Orman knows what it takes to make the leap from broke to wealthy, and is now one of the most respected voices in personal finance — as well as a New York Times bestselling author with more than 25 million books in circulation.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, she is worth some $75 million, indicating that she’s followed her own financial advice for saving, investing and preparing for retirement.

As any self-made millionaire will tell you, going from rags to riches takes hard work. It also calls for tons of tried-and-true personal finance strategies to maintain and build financial success. Here are 25 tips from Orman to steer clear of financial disaster.

Live Within Your Needs but Below Your Means

Living within your needs but below your means is the golden rule of the Suze Orman budget. Although food and shelter are needs, you might be spending too much on these essentials.

“How much you choose to spend on your basic needs is a squishy number dependent on the choices you make,” Orman wrote in a blog post. “For example, a mortgage lender may tell you that you will qualify for a $250,000 mortgage. But if you can find a great home that meets your family’s needs, and it costs $195,000 you will save a lot of money that can be used for other important goals. The $195,000 home fits your needs.”

Don’t Lease a Car — Buy Instead

“Leasing is a horrible financial move,” Orman wrote in a blog post. “It is the auto industry’s way to get you to buy a car you can’t really afford. (…) The big problem is that when you lease there’s the temptation to keep leasing forever.

“So every three years — the standard lease length — you turn in your car and lease another. That means you are signing on for never-ending monthly car payments.”

Orman explained that buying is better because once you pay off your loan, you have that extra monthly payment to build your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, save for a home down payment or meet another financial goal.

Stop Paying Extra for Minor Conveniences

The difference in the cost of paying for food delivery instead of cooking or hopping in an Uber instead of taking the bus might seem small, but the expense of always taking the convenient option will add up over time.

“It adds up big time,” Orman told CNBC. “Stop leasing cars, stop eating out, stop doing the (thing) that’s wasting your money and makes your life easier, because in the long run it’s going to make it harder.”

Cut Out Your Coffee Habit

“I wouldn’t buy a cup of coffee anywhere, ever — and I can afford it — because I would not insult myself by wasting money that way,” Orman told CNBC.

She believes that $3 spent daily on coffee is better off going into a retirement fund or used to meet other savings goals.

For example, if you spend $100 a month on coffee and put that money into an IRA instead, that would grow to about $1 million after 40 years given a 12% rate of return.

“You need to think about it as: You are peeing $1 million down the drain as you are drinking that coffee,” Orman said. “Do you really want to do that? No.”

Pay With Debit Instead of Credit Whenever Possible

“There is no more expensive form of bondage than spending more than you have and paying interest of 15% or more on your credit card,” Orman wrote in a blog post.

She recommends paying for everything with a prepaid debit card or a debit card that is tied to a checking account that does not have overdraft coverage.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/suze-orman-top-26-tips-200055723.html

7 Levels Of Wealth: What Stage Are You At In 2024 According To Grant Sabatier?

7 Levels Of Wealth: What Stage Are You At In 2024 According To Grant Sabatier?

AJ Fabino   Thu, September 26, 2024  Benzinga

In a world where financial anxieties loom, many Americans wonder just how financially secure they are.

For those wondering, Grant Sabatier, a voice in the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, offers a perspective with his seven-level framework of wealth. The road map, written in his book "Financial Freedom," is a gauge that might resonate with those seeking to understand their financial journey.

Sabatier’s first level, “Clarity,” is about taking stock. For some, it might mean confronting the reality of living paycheck to paycheck, which plagues 78% of working Americans, according to a 2023 Payroll.org survey cited by Forbes.

Sabatier’s system breaks down as follows, according to Acorns:

2. Self-sufficiency: Covering basic expenses without external support. While it may still mean living paycheck to paycheck, it’s an important step.

3. Breathing Room: The end of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. This level allows for discretionary spending and marks the beginning of financial comfort. "Just because you make a lot of money doesn't mean you're saving that money," Sabatier said. "Most people in [the U.S.] live through debt."

4. Stability: A solid financial foundation. “At this level, you’re not worried if you lose your job or have to move to a different city,” Sabatier explained. Stability typically involves saving six months of living expenses.

5. Flexibility: The ability to take calculated risks. With at least two years of living expenses saved, individuals can consider major life changes without financial fear. "You could take a year off from your job if you wanted to," he said.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/7-levels-wealth-stage-2024-171546067.html

So What About Silver?

So What About Silver? 

Notes From the Field by James Hickman / Simon Black

September 25, 2024  In the 6th century BC, during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon flourished as a center of power, culture, and commerce.

We know this because the Babylonians were exceptional record keepers. And they chiseled everything down onto cuneiform tablets, many of which have survived through today.

Sadly the tablets aren't tabloids. They don't contain any juicy gossip or colorful stories of ancient times.

But they do offer extremely detailed-- though often boring and mundane-- records of everyday economic transactions, legal contracts, and administrative activities.

Just like future historians centuries from now should easily be able to see this evening's closing stock prices for Apple and Tesla, we can also read about daily grain prices in ancient Babylon.

One important tablet from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II highlights the interchangeability of gold and silver in Babylonian commerce. It records a transaction where 5 shekels of silver were considered equivalent to half a shekel of gold.

(The shekel was an ancient unit of weight approximately equal to 8.33 grams.)

This exchange rate implies a silver-to-gold ratio of 10:1.

The formal establishment of fixed exchange rates between gold and silver took a significant leap under Darius the Great in the mid-6th century BC.

Ruling over the vast Achaemenid Empire, Darius borrowed the concept of minting coins from the Lydians and introduced a bimetallic standard. He decreed that one gold "daric" coin was equivalent to 20 silver coins, creating one of the first examples of an official, fixed silver-to-gold ratio.

Over time, the ratio fluctuated due to advancements in mining techniques and changes in supply and demand. And by the era of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, the ratio had shifted to 13:1.

Similarly, in ancient Rome, Julius Caesar established a 12:1 ratio.

Even in the early history of the United States, The Coinage Act of 1792 legally defined the US dollar in terms of specific weights of gold and silver—1.604 grams of pure gold or 24.1 grams of pure silver—establishing a ratio of approximately 15:1.

Of course, today, the silver-to-gold ratio is whatever the market decides. Ever since the dollar was removed from the gold standard more than five decades ago, the market ratio between silver and gold has ranged from about 25:1 all the way up to 120:1. Right now it is about 85:1.

Many people have an idea about where this ratio should be. Some people think that it will inevitably fall back to 50:1 which would price silver at around $53 per ounce.

Silver could certainly rise to $53 and far beyond. But not because of some preordained ratio.

Remember, there is no fixed rule or law regulating the silver/gold ratio. There's nothing stopping it from rising to 500:1.

And frankly I think it's likely the ratio could rise much higher from its current 85:1.

Just think about the catalysts that could drive both gold and silver prices much higher.

Gold prices over the past few years have been pushed to all-time highs by central banks. And as I've argued, this is a pretty clear sign that they anticipate moving on from the US dollar as the global reserve currency.

As the US national debt continues to explode higher and the federal government appears increasingly dysfunctional, it's becoming likely that the US dollar's global dominance could come to an end within the next several years.

What does the post-dollar global financial system look like? What will the next reserve currency be? No one knows.

And that's why central banks are buying gold. Because they have $8 TRILLION worth of US dollar reserves that they need to convert into something of value.

Gold, for now, represents that value. So central banks are buying it by the metric ton.

But (with minor exception) central banks do not buy silver. The market is too small, making it extremely difficult to invest billions of dollars all at once.

Silver prices are influenced more by industrial demand... and investor speculation. I'll come back to that.

I've said before that a Kamala victory will likely spell the end for the dollar's reign. This is a person who thinks that inflation is caused by "greed" and whose answer to every problem is more government spending.

The Harris deficits and inflation will likely be the proverbial straw that breaks the dollar's back. And the consequent surge in central bank gold purchases could easily send the silver/gold ratio soaring past 200 or more.

Again, while 200 is far beyond the historical average, there's no reason why it can't be even higher. Historical averages are merely data points, not firm rules.

It's far more important to pay attention to price catalysts. And gold has a major catalyst in central bank purchases.

That doesn’t mean the price of silver won’t rise. In fact, a climbing gold price alone is very like to increase the price of silver, simply because investors will speculate that it will rise.

This becomes somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy; investors buy an asset believing that it will rise. That increased demand causes the price to rise, encouraging more investors to buy.

We've seen this type of feverish speculation with plenty of asset classes in the past-- including silver more than a decade ago.

But in the end, if there aren't real demand fundamentals to support the price, the speculative mania always fades.

Bottom line, gold has clear demand from central banks that could send the price to absurd levels. Silver does not share the same catalyst.

Silver prices could absolutely skyrocket. But this would be far more likely due to temporary speculation (and those buyers tend to be finicky and sell quickly) rather than from true long-term industrial or investor demand.

To your freedom,  James Hickman  Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

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https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/so-what-about-silver-151499/

How Much Inheritance Will Ruin Your Kid?

How Much Inheritance Will Ruin Your Kid?

How generational wealth impacts productivity and happiness

Sean Kernan

When my family lived near the Cavalier Country Club in Virginia Beach, we were the token middle-class family in the neighborhood. Many of the houses had hedged bushes, carefully carved into eccentric geometric shapes, and sports cars sitting unashamed in their driveway, announcing their owner’s achievements to all.

And despite this clear class divide, I got along great with the boys around me. Some were only 10, but had fathers that were entirely grey haired, and mothers who looked barely out of high school. I noticed the peculiarity of it but never connected the dots on what these unions meant.

Some of these boys were well-adjusted and great. Others were quite spoiled, and I often wonder what came of them. They were agitated and disobedient in school, often getting into fights on the playground.

Had wealth bestowed a sense of privilege upon them? Did they already feel exempt from the rules and any acts of discipline?

Per the Global Health Report for 2023, the United States has 22.7 million millionaires (38.2% of the global total, with China in second at 10.2%). Many of these people are well past one million and cruising into eight and nine figures of net worth. And it leaves us with an interesting predicament: Many scions of vast fortunes are quite young.

And while this might not be a problem many of you sympathize with, it should nevertheless invoke thought about how your worldly assets should be addressed with your children, or the lack thereof.

How should we think about our inheritance?

Lynn Chen-Zhang’s 8-year-old son came home from school one day and said a student asked him, “Why do you study so hard?”

Classmates were saying his parents were rich, so there was no need to work so hard. Her son was on to something. Their father, Charles Chen-Zhang, owns one of the largest financial advisory firms in the country and was already a known philanthropist.

Realizing these questions were continuing, as classmates knew of their family (mainly through gossiping parents), the Chen-Zhangs decided to sit their children down and have the money talk.

They told their two boys, “We’ll support you both in getting as much education as you’d like, but from then on, you are on your own.” Which translated to zero inheritance.

Whether this was a scare tactic or a true threat, they worked. Both sons are now thriving in their finance careers, independent of their father’s company.

This trend is common. I spoke with a peer, Matthew, who is 49 and runs a successful medium-sized business which he just sold for a substantial sum. He told me, “My children don’t even know how much money I just made. Nor do I intend to let them know.” Of note, he lives a humble life and does not flash his wealth by any means.

But most parents don’t face this severe of a dilemma. The average inheritance in the US is “only” $46,200 per census data, with 85% of inheritances being below $250,000. Which isn’t nothing.

The game changes with the ultra-wealthy

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/how-much-inheritance-will-ruin-your-kid-003747274.html

The Downsides Of Buying A House In Cash

The Downsides Of Buying A House In Cash

Christy Bieber  Sun, September 22, 2024  Moneywise

My financial advisor says I shouldn't pay 100% cash for a house — is it better to take out a mortgage and invest in the S&P 500 instead?

If you have a lot of cash and are considering buying a property, you may be tempted to pay for the home outright. After all, not having a mortgage sounds nice.

But the reality is that it’s not always a good idea to buy your house in cash for many reasons. Before writing a big check for your real estate investment, you’ll want to consider the opportunity costs of tying up your money this way.

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The downsides of buying a house in cash

The biggest downside of buying a house in cash is that you can’t invest the money you sink into the home.

Your return on investment (ROI) for paying cash is the interest you save on your mortgage loan. Even with rates still hovering near record highs, your ROI would still be around 6.93% (the 52-week average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage loan as of September 12, 2024.) Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has produced a 10% average annual return since its inception almost 70 years ago, offering a potentially higher ROI if you invest in the stock market.

There are also some other factors to think about.

If you itemize your deductions, you can get a tax break for your mortgage interest, so the government subsidizes your home purchase. Plus, your housing payment effectively gets cheaper every year due to inflation, which reduces the value of the money you're making housing payments with.

TO READ MORE:   https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/financial-advisor-says-shouldnt-pay-113300313.html